The End is Near

There are only a few days left to my vegan diet. Lynette successfully made it the 21 days she set out to do and I'm so proud of her for making it. I really couldn't have done this without her support and encouragement. It would have been a really tough thing to go it alone.

Like Lynette, I plan on sticking with a vegan diet. I like to call it being a "Level 1 vegan." Not the 5 vegan, "I don't eat anything that casts a shadow," like the famous quote from The Simpsons. What would I define Level 1 as? I won't eat any meat, dairy or eggs and I won't eat anything that contains an obvious animal byproduct. I'm also going to continue to eliminate fast food and reduce my intake of processed food and refined sugar. What I'm not going to do is carry the dictionary-sized list of food additives and preservatives that may at some point have either harmed or come into contact with an animal, with me to the grocery store. For those people that are that committed, I have complete respect for you. That has to be hard.

My husband and I, after the 21 day mark, almost broke down and ordered a pizza. But I admit the guilt I felt just thinking about it outweighed my craving for the pizza. I'm not talking about guilt for eating the cheese and whatever other animal byproducts are on the pizza, but guilt for giving up and not lasting the full month. I'm glad that we decided against it.

That's one thing I think I've gained that I'm really happy for. Will power! Before this year I probably would have given in and ordered that pizza. I always had the "I'll get back on the wagon tomorrow," mentality and we all know how well that works! Now that I've been forced to really focus and pay attention to what I put into my body for the past month I've found that my will power is stronger than it's ever been. I'm not a slave to my cravings anymore!

Now that I'm coming to the "end" of my official run as a vegan, there are things I've gained and loved about the diet, things I've hated and things that I anticipate to be hard in the future.

The Positives
* Will Power! I have it now!
* I lost approximately 5 pounds by changing nothing but my diet (I also ride 3-5 days a week)
* A turn off to fast food. I don't crave it anymore
* Very little desire for meat. The smell actually makes me sick to my stomach, but I think this is more due to my husband's meat-heavy diet than being vegan.
* I feel better! I had a cold and it lasted only two days instead of a full blown week.
* I have more energy to get out and do things.
* I have a more adventurous spirit. I want to get out and try things I've never done before or was too scared to do!
* I don't feel like a slave to my appetite. I eat when I'm hungry not when I'm bored now.
* No more random cravings for food because I see it on TV.

The Negatives
* I miss the convenience of fast food
* I miss cheese, even though I don't want to eat it really. I just want a bite or taste of it.
* It was really expensive at first and our grocery bill is still going to be a little higher each month because of my diet. It won't be as expensive as it was at the start of the month now that I have all of the basics.
* I still find that I get into the same occasional rut that I used to where I'm hungry but no food sounds appealing. Though this seems to happen less often now.
* More dishes in the sink! This is because I'm cooking more.

Concerns for the Future
* I'm afraid of social situations, like my sister-in-law's upcoming wedding. Her menu is salmon and steak and I'm sure the sides are something like mashed potatoes and veggies covered in butter (or something similar), ie: a non-vegan friendly meal. I don't want to be pushy or rude and demand a vegan meal, since there's already no choice of dish. At the same time, I know I'm going to be hungry by the time dinner rolls around and I'll have to eat. If I eat whatever isn't meat, are certain members of our family (who I'm sure by then will be informed I'm a vegan, which is fine) going to make some "I thought you were vegan?" comments? If that's the first time in 5 months I've eaten dairy or meat will I get sick?
* If I eat meat or dairy (I plan to stay away from eggs) how sick will I get?
* If I travel will it be hard to find food I can eat?

I'm sure every vegan faces these challenges and they're nothing new. I just have to stay strong and keep telling myself that if other people can do it, I can too.

I still believe that ultimately you should chose your diet based on what's right for you. If you want to become a vegan because you're against factory farms and the meat industry, that's fine. If you're doing it because you want to do your part, however small it may be, to help the environment, that's fine too. If you want to be a vegan just to see if you can do it or so that you'll be healthier, that's also fine. One of the major things I've learned is that your success or failure at being a vegan has NOTHING to do with your reason for becoming a vegan. It has to do with you and what's right for you. You can be a vegan and not be morally opposed to meat or animal products. That's okay. You can be a raw vegan and avoid even those crazy chemicals that may have at one time touched an animal, that's okay too! If it's right for you and you do so that you're certain you're getting all of the vitamins, etc. your body needs to survive, that's all that matters.

Samm's Quick Vegan Burrito

I made up this little recipe this week. It's a great source of protein, quick to make, flavorful and really filling! It's a healthier alternative to Taco Bell and frozen burritos.

1 package of whole wheat tortillas
1 can pinto beans or black beans (mixing two cans works too) drained 3/4 of the way
spanish rice, either homemade or boxed (make sure to check the ingredients!)

Put the beans into the food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.

Put approximately 2 tbsp of the beans onto the tortilla and spread it out so it almost reaches the ends.

Put about 1/4 cup of spanish rice (or less depending on the size of your tortilla) on top of the beans, but in a line down the middle of the tortilla. Do not spread out.

Fold up all four corners of the tortilla and then roll. Hold in place with a toothpick.

Enjoy!